$35 Everything Cleaner

[The_Bishop]

According to this, the recommended flow is at least 2 gallons per minute. I tested my pump in a 2 gallon pail, and it emptied it out through the manifold and the three 1/4" tubes in well under a minute. I don't think flow will be an issue with the pump listed in this thread.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Edit: looks like 2 GPM according to this link.

The recommended flow is at least 2 gallons per minute.

Well, they're saying 15 minutes at 2 gallons per minute, or 20 minutes at 0 gallons per minute. I'll run at whatever rate I get for 20 minutes and call it better than required. Any guesses if StarSan is adequate for the "acid wash" that they suggest?

Here's another instruction manual for anyone interested:
http://www.reddingdistributing.com/docs/DRAFT INFO/LINE CLEANING.PDF

 

[The_Bishop]

I usually run a slightly 'hotter' mix of star san as an acid clean... 8ml in 1 gallon of RO water. So far, so good. I think the lack of minerals in the RO water helps dissolve whatever beerstone may be built up in the draft system. It must be doing something, as I've never found any after teardown.

 

[mongoose33]

This is the million dollar question I think.

My concern was the increased line resistance running in serial might overwhelm the head pressure of the pump, especially when you factor the resistance at the ball-lock disconnects. Since I don't have the little connectors I can't test myself, I'd be interested to hear other's results.

One of the things I discovered with my approach above is that line velocity was much lower the greater the "head" or the height the pump had to push the liquid. I solved that in part by putting the bucket on a crate, and I may raise it more when I add my fifth tap.

I have a video somewhere online showing the velocity of the fluid through the lines, if I can locate it I'll post it.

 

[The_Bishop]

For anyone who thinks that PBW/Oxyclean free is enough:

I used to do this religiously after a keg kicked, 15 mins of PBW in warm water.

I finally bought BLC. Used it *after* a PBW recirc. The BLC came out of the lines looking like weak iced tea. Use BLC! It makes a difference.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

Picking my parts up for this tomorrow.

Any thoughts on a bucket sprayer wand, or would you use the same one?

 

[BeardedBrews]

Picking my parts up for this tomorrow.

Any thoughts on a bucket sprayer wand, or would you use the same one?

You might try the PVC pipe with drilled holes approach and see how you like it first. Otherwise, the plastic nozzle I linked is the only one I've found that fits in a glass carboy.

 

[wyowolf]

how would you connect this to a pin lock keg?

For those of you using or considering using the system to clean keg lines. Bobby at BrewHardware.com came up w/ a piece that connects two liquid-out QDs together. With some 1/2" silicone hose, you can daisy-chain all the faucets (up to some point--I've done four, I believe I can do five), and clean them all at once instead of one at a time.

Here's the part: https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ball_lock_jumperpost.htm

Here's a pic or two showing the setup. As long as you can get your pump to feed the first liquid-out QD, this is a piece of cake.

View attachment 384365

View attachment 384366

 

[pricelessbrewing]

how would you connect this to a pin lock keg?

I don't think there is a pin lock jumper.

What I did is take two MFL to barb fittings, and attach each on either end of a piece of tubing. So I can connect it directly to either line and pump it through.

Ideally, you want to pump it through the lines backwards to maximize cleaning but this will do for now.

 

[mongoose33]

how would you connect this to a pin lock keg?

I have no idea--it's for ball-lock. Don't know if there's an equivalent for pin-lock fittings.

 

[GJOCONNELL]

can someone through up a diagram how things are connected for a four tap keg or more than a single tap? Having trouble trying to following the flow of liquid but want to rig something up to clean my kegerators!

 

[mongoose33]

Here's how I do mine. Numbering the taps from 1-4 from right to left, the lines for 1 is connected to the pump; the lines for taps 2 and 3 are connected using the ball-lock connector, the line for tap 4 is the return line, using another ball-lock connector. That's the one that returns to the bucket.

You can see where the 1/2" silicone tubing connects the faucets in the front.

Here's the connector for attaching two OUT QD's to each other, or as the exit for the last QD:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ball_lock_jumperpost.htm

 

[BeardedBrews]

Wow, I guess I never updated with my experiment!

I use a bunch of splitters on the outside, and then pull the beer lines out and take the popits out so they drain freely.

https://goo.gl/photos/ijPKKWwLuq7ju8Ep8

 

[The_Bishop]

So the 'manifold' approach is working well? I've had luck with mine as well, although I picked up a few of the carb caps with barbs on them to make the connection to the disconnects.

 

[BeardedBrews]

So the 'manifold' approach is working well? I've had luck with mine as well, although I picked up a few of the carb caps with barbs on them to make the connection to the disconnects.

It has been working well so far, mostly I like only having to hook it up once, even if I have to let it run longer since the flow is lower. To me the big benefit is getting the vinyl taste out of the cheap tubing.